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CABLE RECORDER. No. 322,918. Patented July 28, 1885.

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CABLE REGORDER.

No. 322,918. Patented July Z8,'1885,..

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()rrics.

MOSES G. FARMER, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

CABLE-RECORDER.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,918, dated July 28,1885.

Application filed December 4, 1884.

T0 aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MosEs G. FARMER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Newport, in the county of Newport and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGable'Recorders, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

The subject of my present invention is an instrument for recordingelectrical signals, and is more particularly designed as a recorder foruse with electric cables or telegraph-lines of great length, over whichit is practicable to transmit only feeble impulses of current.

The instrument consists mainly of two parts, one of which is anelectromagnetic device or its equivalent, that is moved to a certainextent by impulses of current, and the other the device which recordssuch movements. The specific character of the former may be variedgreatly, according to the conditions under which it may be used, as willhereinafter more fully appear. As a means of recording the movements ofthis device, however, I employ a short length of fine platinum wireconnected with two wires of good conducting qualities, that project fromthe moving instrument, and a traveling band or strip of redtissue-paper, which is carried past the platinum wire, the heat of whichleaves upon the paper a whitish line.

I will explain this instrument in its most practicable and useful formby reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a viewin elevation and part section of the entire apparatus. Fig. 2 is adetail in cross-section of a portion of the moving part, and Fig. 3 amodification of the form shown in Fig. 1

The instrument consists of a light tube, A, of metal or othermaterial,which is suspended in a vertical position by a filament or thread, B. Atthe lower end of tube A is a mercurycup, 0, in the cover of which is anopening, a, through which passes a pin, 1), projecting from the centerof the end of the tube A. By this means the tube is steadied and held ina vertical position.

D D are a number of magnetic needles or bars passing through the tube A,all in the (N0 model.)

same vertical plane and with their magnetic poles alternating-that is tosay, if the righthand end of the upper bar is positive, the corresponding end of the bar next below is negative, and so on.

E E are a series of galvanometer coils, arranged in pairs on either sideof the tube A, and supported in such relative positions with referenceto the magnetic bars as to form a compound astatic galvanometer. Thesecoils are connected up in series with the signalingcircuit, and arestationary. Every impulse of current that passes over the circuit willtherefore produce a certain movement of the bars D and of the tube A,the arrangement shown being a more effective one than a single bar orpair of bars, such as is commonly used in instruments of this character,although my in vention is not limited to any special number of coils andbars or armatures.

The upper end of the tube A carries a mercury-cup, F. From this leads awire, G, of copper or other good conductor, down through the tube tonear its lower end, where it passes out and is carried along a lightarm, H, ofinsulating material, bent downward, as shown. Another wire, K,of copper, is attached to this arm, and dips into the mercury-cup 0,passing through a curved slot, 0, in the cover of the same.

To the outer ends of wires G K is connected a short and fine piece ofplatinum wire, L, which, by means of a battery, N, connected by wires Mwith the mercury cups F and G, is raised to a red heat when theapparatus is in use.

0 is a drum, over which is drawn a band of colored tissue-paper, P, froma reel, P. This paper is carried so near to the platinum wire L that thelatter, when hot, produces a light line upon it. As the wire L is movedfrom side to side by impulses of current in the signaling-circuit, theline which it traces will afford a permanent record of the signalsresembling the line traced by the siphon recorders heretofore used. Thegeneral character of this line is shown in Fig. 2.

In order to produce the requisite movement of the arm H and wire L otherforms of galvanometer or similar instrument may be used. In Fig. 3, forexample, a modification is shown,

in which soft iron bars B, surrounded by coils O, are used in lieu ofthe magnetizedsteel bars D. The proper magnetic condition of these barsis maintained by connecting the coils 0 up in the circuit of the wire Lby means of mereurycups f 9, carried by the tube A, or an independentcircuit may be used for this purpose.

In order to maintain the wire L ata proper temperature, a rheostat, B,may be used in circuit with it.

I have found that the eifect of the heat of the wire L is best indicatedupon pink or red tissue-paper of the ordinary kind, the passage of thewire over this paper destroying the color and leaving a whitish linethereon.

The rotary movement of the tube, induced by the influence of currents inthe coils E upon the bars 13 or B, may be confined within proper limitsby suitable stops, if necessary.

The advantages of this instrument are that it is simple and effective.No parts are likely to be disarranged or impaired by use, while it isexceedingly sensitive and delicate in its op eration, from the fact thatfriction between the moving and stationary parts is practicallyeliminated.

\Vhat I claim is 1. An electrical recorder, consisting of thecombination with insulated coils andv armatures of a platinum wirearranged to be heated by an electric current and attached to thearmaturesupport, so as to move therewith, and a band or strip of coloredtissue paper adapted to be moved past the platinum wire, as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a series of insulated coils, armatures, ormagnetized bars, and a support for the same capable of being moved bythe action of currents in the coils upon the armatures or bars, of aplatinum wire ar ranged to be electrically heated attached to thesupport so as to move therewith, and a band or strip of coloredtissue-paper adapted to be moved past the platinum wire, allsubstantially as described.

3. The combination, with a series of insulated coils, magnetized needlesor bars, and a vertically-suspended support by which said bars arecarried, of copper or similar wires connected with an electric circuitand projecting from the armature -support, a short length of platinumwire united to the copper wires, and a band or strip of coloredtissuepaper adapted to be moved past said platinum wire, as set forth.

4. The combination, with a series of sta tionary galvanometer-eoils,magnetized bars in position to be moved by currents in the coils, and avertically-suspended tube carrying said bars, of copper wires extendingfrom said tube, a platinum wire connected to the copper wires, anelectric battery for heating the platinum wire, mercury-cups forconnecting the wire with the battery, and a band or strip of coloredtissue paper adapted to be moved past the platinum wire, as herein setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day ofDecember, 1884.

MOSES G. FABMER.

VVitn esses:

SARAH J. FARMER, XVILLIAM B. HEATHERTON.

